Chelsea transfer blow as ‘£24m offer for in-form striker is REJECTED’ just hours after failed bid for Moises Caicedo
CHELSEA have reportedly turned down a £24m bid for Elye Wahi from Montpellier.
The Blues are keen on the striker after he scored 19 goals in Ligue 1 last season.
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Wahi, 20, is believed to be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge and hopes the two clubs can reach an agreement.
According to the defaultChelsea have rejected a formal £24m offer from Montpellier bosses.
The French youth international’s contract runs for two more years at the Stade de la Mosson.
Should Chelsea succeed in signing Wahi, he would likely be loaned out to Strasbourg.
Acquired by the BlueCo group earlier this year, the French side are seen as a key factor in Chelsea’s multi-club vision.
Strasbourg is managed by Patrick Vieira and, like Montpellier, competes in Ligue 1.
The Blues face stiff competition for Wahi’s signing.
Accordingly the athleteParis Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid are admirers of the France U21 star’s talents.
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While Montpellier-based paper Midi Libre claim Tottenham are preparing a bid.
Wahi is keen to join Chelsea but the French are eliminated foot Mercato reported last week that he was not interested in going on loan to Strasbourg.
Before their failed Wahi bid, the Blues had an £80m bid for Brighton star Moises Caicedo which was rejected by the Seagulls.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are reportedly waiting for £100m despite the Ecuadorian wanting to leave the club.
Chelsea endured a major sell-off this summer, although manager Mauricio Pochettino still took 29 players with him on his pre-season tour of the United States.
The Argentine isn’t happy with his bloated squad and has warned Chelsea need to strike the right ‘balance’.
He said: “We’re made up of 29 players here and the squad is huge. It’s about putting together a squad with a good balance and people who can play and compete for their place.”
“It’s a big task and a challenge for us in the transfer window to build a good relationship and a good balance. If players are not happy because they think they won’t play, we will find a solution with the club to fix the situation.
“We can’t have a huge squad without the players involved, otherwise there will be a mess. Maybe less is more and more is less. So I have to make it clear that we don’t need a large squad.”
“We need 22, 23, 24 players and some younger ones and that’s all. I’m so sorry because it might be a difficult decision, but we have to build a good and balanced team that wants to compete for things.”
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